Five-year-old pacer Gentleman Friend earned his first win on Canadian soil with a 1:55.3 front end effort in the featured finale at Hiawatha Horse Park on Saturday night
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Driven by Tyler Borth, Gentleman Friend worked his way to command from post eight past the :26.3 opening quarter in the $10,000 Preferred 2 Pace and carved out middle panels of :57.1 and 1:26.2 before turning back first over Cambest Kisser (Robert Sparling Jr.) and holding off the rallying Artashack (David Dowling) to win by three-quarters of a length. Early leader Cash Only Please (Don Rankin Jr.) finished third. The 5-1 fourth choice paid $12 to win.
Frank Baker Jr. trains and co-owns the son of Western Hanover with Wray Wilson of Thorndale, Ont. The duo claimed the gelding for $15,000 in his Canadian debut at Woodbine Racetrack on May 11. He finished second by a neck at Grand River Raceway in his only other Canadian start on May 23.
The victory was Gentleman Friend's 12th lifetime and the lion's share of the purse pushed his earnings to $151,337.
One race prior, seven-year-old Royal Strength gelding Winzel ($7.60) converted a pocket trip into a 1:58.2 triumph in the $8,400 Preferred 3 Trot. Driven by Don Rankin Jr., the 5-2 second choice defeated the favoured pacesetting Like A Gator by one length. Todd Kennedy trains the winner of 26 races -- all at Canadian tracks -- for Ontario owners Janet Fairall of Windsor, Brittany Kennedy of Dorchester, and Nancy and Jack Holmes of Clinton.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Hiawatha Horse Park.